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English
BackThe English Department is driven by a deep commitment to enriching students' educational journey through a dynamic and inclusive curriculum. Our students explore a broad spectrum of texts, from the traditional literary canon to contemporary and underrepresented voices, encouraging critical thinking and emotional growth.
Through the study of both fiction and non-fiction, we nurture curiosity and support students in developing intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. In English Language, we empower learners to communicate with fluency and confidence - essential for understanding the world and engaging fully in life beyond the classroom.
English holds a distinctive place in the curriculum, offering a lens through which students can explore human experience and society. They engage with diverse perspectives, encounter powerful ideas, and build a strong foundation in reading, writing, and spoken communication. Above all, we aim to inspire a lifelong appreciation for language and literature in every learner.
Subject leader: Michaela.Bell@excelsiornewcastle.org.uk
Key Stage 2
Key Stage 3 and 4
Aims of our Key Stage 3 curriculum
From Year 7, our English curriculum builds on KS2 knowledge and introduces a wide range of texts—from Beowulf to Animal Farm—laying strong foundations for success at KS4, KS5, and beyond. Learning is carefully sequenced and interleaved to promote long-term knowledge and understanding. Each year, students study plays, prose, and poetry to ensure a balanced literary experience and the confidence to engage with both familiar and unseen texts.
Through a diverse selection of periods, cultures, and genres, students explore how language shapes meaning while developing purposeful writing and confident spoken expression. Poetry plays a central role, amplifying underrepresented voices and offering a lens through which to explore identity, heritage, and society, while challenging Eurocentric narratives.
Shakespeare occupies a central place in the KS3 curriculum, with lessons designed to connect his work to students’ modern experiences. Alongside his work, the curriculum highlights voices from women, working-class writers, and minority ethnic communities, encouraging critical discussion of social issues and inequality. Students also engage with literary non-fiction to build cultural capital and explore contemporary topics, with discussions linked to career pathways in fields such as law, journalism, and publishing.
Aims of Key Stage 4 curriculum
At Key Stage 4, students consolidate their literary knowledge and prepare for GCSEs through a structured approach: set texts are the focus in Year 10, while Year 11 emphasises exam mastery. This model supports strong outcomes in English Literature and strengthens analytical thinking and written expression for confident responses in English Language. Students engage deeply with texts, developing precision, independence, and creative insight. Close study enhances their own writing, helping them craft original narratives with sophistication. Regular essay writing builds confidence in argumentation, with clear thesis statements and structured analysis. The curriculum remains knowledge-rich and inclusive, fostering thoughtful discussions on identity, power, and social justice, and reinforcing literature’s role as both art and commentary.